Rankingologist: Z
Analysis: Arod, Z, Fallen
1. Los Angeles Rams (6-1) (LW:1): Julian Fleming has to be one of the better stories in PML this season. The kid was passed on until round 6 two seasons ago. Fast forward today, the 98 speed wideout is absolutely tearing up the league. Most recently, he added a three touchdown game to his resume.
2. Houston Texans (6-1) (LW:2): Houston gets back on track this week with a nail biting win over their division rivals in the Jacksonville Jaguars. Stroud threw 3 interceptions and despite the offense only scoring 12 points, the Houston defense held a potent Jackonville offense to just 10 points. Houston held Trevor Lawrence to 122 yards through the air when he previously was averaging 375 passing yards per game. Houston needed this bounce back victory to maintain the hold that they have over the AFC South.
3. Detroit Lions (6-1) (LW:3): When will we finally throw the Lions in the conversation for potential NFC champs? Are they actually better than or equals to the Saints, Rams, and Seahawks of the conference? Their record says so, and they’ve overachieved in a division most expected them to sit at the bottom of. So when will the league notice that these Lions are for real?
4. Seattle Seahawks (5-1) (LW:4): Z and the Seahawks head into the bye week on a 4 game winning streak. He’s gotta like where the team stands at the moment- for the most part. Only question now is, when will the notoriously stout Zstar defense wake up?
5. New Orleans Saints (5-1) (LW:5): Saints head into the bye week on a 5 game win streak, and at 5-1 are the 4th best team in NFC? What gives? Just tells you how tough the conference has become. Could make a jump into the top 3 with a win over the Lions week 8.
6. New England Patriots (5-1) (LW: 6): New England has shown their dominance this cycle against the members in the AFC East. They own the division, much like the New England Patriots used to do with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Gavin Wimsatt hasn’t thrown an interception since week 1 and in the two games versus the Bills this season, he has thrown 5 touchdowns and 500+ passing yards. Wimsatt has to saddle up and get ready to play Coach Wimmy and the Vikings next week.
7. Minnesota Vikings (4-2) (LW:8): Wimmy has never been known for his passing attack, but this season the Vikings are a top 5 team in that category. Pair that with a top 10 defense, you have to love the off-season Wimmy put together. Signing Tua for 2 million? Wimmy hands down GM of the Year!
8. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) (LW:9): The Chiefs defeated the Steelers in week 7 by a score of 36-24. While the game was pretty tightly contested in the first half, the Chiefs pulled away in the second half. Isiah Pacheco had a monster day on the ground as the Chiefs now sit at 5-2 on the season, with a matchap with Nef and the Falcons in store for week 8.
9. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) (LW:11): The Eagles defeated the CPU Cardinals in week 7, sending them into their bye week at 5-2. Many wondered whether or not the Eagles would be able to capitalize on the departure of Drama at the start of the season, and after 7 weeks, they are having their best season yet. They travel to Atlanta to play the Falcons in week 9.
10. Los Angeles Chargers (5-2) (LW:12): A convincing win over the Broncos moves the Chargers into the top 10. Since a week 2 loss to the Rams, they have won 5 straight and show no signs of slowing down. They travel to Vegas for a second matchup against the Raiders in what should be a tightly contested game.
11. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3) (LW:7): Despite the loss, Trevor Lawrence leads the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns. The Jaguars couldn’t do much on the ground this week, they were held to 25 yards rushing on 11 carries. That’s an awful 2 yards per carry. Jacksonville’s defense stepped their game up, sacking Stroud 5 times and forcing him to throw three interceptions. It’s unfortunate that the Jaguar’s offense and defense couldn’t be on the same page this week, because if Trevor Lawrence played as he’s been this season, the outcome of this game is different.
12. Buffalo Bills (4-3) (LW:10): The Buffalo Bills had a golden opportunity this week and squandered it away with a loss to the Patriots. Josh Allen led the team with 299 all purpose yards and 2 touchdowns. It’s difficult for your quarterback to lead the team in rushing yards and win the game. Eventually, the quarterback is going to be too fatigued to make accurate passes and the Bills ran into that issue this week.
13. Atlanta Falcons (4-2) (LW:13): After starting the season 4-0, Nef and the Falcons Head into the bye week losers Of 2 straight. They’re certainly looking .500 in the eye as the Chiefs and Eagles stand ahead of them. Season is hitting a crossroads in Atlanta.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3) (LW:14): There was some controversy heading into this week’s game against the Chiefs because critics were convinced that Zach Wilson was having a better season than Patrick Mahomes. However, Mahomes had the higher completion percent, but less passing yards, passing touchdowns, and a lower passer rating. While statistically, Zach Wilson outshined Mahomes, Wilson did throw one more interception which didn’t help his team bring home the ultimate prize, a victory.
15. Green Bay Packers (4-3) (LW:15): The CPU Packers defeated the CPU Bears in week 7. They enter their bye week at 4-3 and have a big game against the Vikings in week 9.
16. Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) (LW:21): The Bengals are happy that they were victorious before their bye week and have been seen giving their players the week off. That’s especially true for Ja’marr Chase, the receiver that is averaging a league high of 118.8 receiving yards per game. Chase did pull his groin, but he will be back in action next week for a potential division slobberknocker against the Steelers.
17. Cleveland Browns (3-3) (LW:20):Cleveland’s upset last week over the Falcons was short lived, because they were unable to string multiple wins together, and lost this week to the Titans. Left tackle Dawand Jones leads the league in sacks given up with 8. Daniel Jones is 2-2 in his 4 starts, but throwing 5 interceptions isn’t the recipe for success in Cleveland. The former Super Bowl champions have some work to do if they are going to get back to the big dance this season.
18. Las Vegas Raiders (3-4) (LW:14): The Raiders
19. Carolina Panthers (3-4) (LW:15): The offense has to wake up and show some signs of life if these Panthers want to compete. The defense is playing top notch this year, but their counterparts are nowhere to be found.
20. Denver Broncos (3-4) (LW:18): A week after falling to the Chiefs, the Broncos get dismantled by the Chargers 30-13. There were inclinations of loser talk coming from the Broncos camp, and they’ll be a team under the league microscope as the weeks move on. Things don’t get easier as they play the Rams in week 8.
21. Chicago Bears (3-4) (LW:23): Bears lose the sim to the Packers. They will look to bounce back against Beast and the Bills in week 8.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) (LW:22): It’s clear the offense runs through Roc Taylor in Tampa. He absolutely torched a solid Ravens defense to the tune of 3 touchdowns. Buccaneers could climb over .500 and remain in contention with a win over the Panthers this week.
23. Washington Commanders (3-4) (LW:23): The Commanders get back on the board with a win over the Giants. Miles has played good enough to win in a majority of his games this season, and it’s nice to see him get back in the win column. A matchup with Que and the Cardinals waits in week 8 as the Commanders try to get to .500.
24. New York Jets (3-4) (LW:24): Caleb Williams versus Arch Manning. Two dynamic athletes facing off with a lot on the line for two struggling teams trying to get into the playoff hunt. However, Williams was the better quarterback this week, leading his team to an 8 point victory. New York is on a two game winning streak with Miami on the schedule next week, I guess you pencil them in for a potential ‘turkey” style streak coming up next week.
25. San Francisco 49ers (2-4) (LW:25) Casper has heart and he’s been a joyous welcome to the PML community. As far as ranking his game play so far, really tough to tell as he truly hasn’t had it easy yet. Things won’t be any better as the Seahawks, Chiefs, and Chargers are up next on the schedule. Talk about growing pains.
26. Tennessee Titans (2-5) (LW:26): Malik Willis gets his first victory as a starter and maybe this will give him the confidence to get the Titans back in play to contend for their division. Willis was sloppy with the football, but he routinely looked for the open man despite throwing three interceptions. Willis has to avoid forcing the pass and taking the sack if the route isn’t open.
27. Indianapolis Colts (1-5) (LW:31): The fans in Indy are riding high as they pull off their first win of the season. Jonathan Taylor emerges from the shadows after having four games straight of under 100 rushing yards. He galloped to a season high of 173 yards on the ground. The Colts have the talent on the field, they just have to scheme the players correctly to take advantage of their mismatches.
28. New York Giants (1-6) (LW:28): The Giants continue their freefall in week 7, falling to the Commanders 34-21. Burn has just not had a good cycle throwing the football, and this game was no different. Quinn Ewers threw 6 interceptions in this game, bringing his season total to 18 through 7 weeks. Burn needs to clean this up in what’s looking like another lost season, in week 8 as the Giants host the Cowboys.
29. Dallas Cowboys (1-6) (LW:27): The Cowboys have lost 5 in a row, this time falling to the Rams 46-24. Dallas went into the half down 33-10 and just never got anything going in the second half. While CJ Baxter had a good day on the ground, the Dallas defense struggled again. They travel to New York to play the Giants next week.
30. Baltimore Ravens (1-6) (LW:30): Add an additional 5 interceptions for Lamar Jackson, bringing his total up to a league high of 19. Ironically, 19 is also the league’s high for passing touchdowns. The Ravens suffered another loss this week and there seems to be a recipe for disaster every time this team goes out on the field. Reaching halfway to the season in a couple weeks, the Ravens might be playing for the last draft of the cycle.
31. Arizona Cardinals (1-6) (LW:25): Not much to be said about the Cardinals. Que is currently dealing with some personal things and we wish him the best. The Cardinals play the Commanders in week 8.
32. Miami Dolphins (0-7) (LW:32): De’Von Achane leads the league in carries (144) and rushing yards (871). He has been a wrecking crew for the Dolphins, but it hasn’t led them to a single win this season. Miami has to remember the usage rule, because Achane is getting dangerously close to breaking it. Say what you want about Miami’s offense, but at least they spread the ball around with 7 different receivers having touchdowns this season. Miami has to hone in on what works for them, but looking ahead, I don’t see a victory on their schedule.
